DESPERATE DOINGS OF THE BUSHRANGERS IN THE MORUYA DISTRICT.

West Coast Times, Issue 194, 3 May 1866, Page 2

DESPERATE DOINGS OF THE BUSHRANGERS IN THE MORUYA DISTRICT.

FLETCHER, THE LEADER OF THE GANG, AND CONSTABLE O'GRADY SHOT DEAD.

We (Empire) are indebted to Mr W, J. Clements, of the " Moruya Examiner," for the following particulars of the doings of a murderous gang at Nerrigundah on Monday last :— The party of scoundrels consisted of seven, led by William Fletcher. It is supposed that they were returning from Bega races. Waiting for their prey at the foot of the mountain on the road leading from the Gulph, they first seized a Chinaman, and it is said murdered him, retaining his horse ; the mailboy was next, from whom they took the bags and his horse, giving him the Chinaman's in exchange. Mr John Emmott was on the road with a considerable amount of gold and cash in his possession. After receiving a wound and having his horse killed, Mr Emmott was compelled to give in. Of course the robbers took all. We are glad to say that the wound is not dangerous, and the sufferer was removed to Mrs Groves's. It is supposed that Mr J. Emmott lost above £100. The robbers, as far as we can learn, next proceeded towards the Gulph, stopping at Groves's, shouting for all hands, and paying for the drink. Next we hear of them at the Gulph, where they stuckup Mr Pollocks store. It is well known that Mr Pollock is the principal gold-buyer on the Gulph, and, since the gold escort was knocked off, has been in the habit of taking down his gold to Sydney at intervals of four or five weeks. On the following day, it is said, Mr Pollock was intending to make the trip with his gold, so that at least the scoundrels must have robbed him of 200 or 300 ounces. They afterwards went to Wain's publio-houso, and one of them, who is pos tively recognised as Tommy Clarke, said, " Halloo, Charley, have you been to Bega races ? " "Yes," was the reply. "Then fork out," was the return, and Charles Nash gave up 30s. Fletcher placed a pistol at the head of R. Drew, the butcher, and demanded his money. Drew had his hands in his pocket, drew them out, and placed hi* hands behind, a proceeding that made one of the gang call for a light. Policeman O'Grady was the only tenant of the lock-up, and was sick at the time. He, however, rose from his sick bed, and faced the gang at Wallis's, and immediately a light was called for he shot Fletcher dead, the bullet glancing on his arm, which it struck ; it afterwards entered his body, and, it is supposed, entered, his heart. The bushrangers immediately returned the fire, and poor O'Grady was shot in the hip, the ball entering in an oblique direction at the side, and coming out at the lower part of the belly. O'Grady is since dead. Sergeant Hitch was on the way from Moruya at the time, amd two watches were discovered on the body of Fletcher one of which is supposed to have belonged to the sergeant, but nothing has been heard of him. On the mail boy reaching Bodalla Post office, Mr Clarke, the Postmaster, immediately despatched his son, with another youth, a son-in» law, to R. Wilkins, Esq., as an express with the news of his being robbed to Moruya, where they arrived at about one o clock,

In the course of a few hours, at about five o'clock, Messrs Downey and Christy, having taken a back road through the bush, arrived with intelligence as to the Nerrigundah conflict. Our available police force stationed here, sergeant Brennan and constable Baker, within six minutes after the receipt of the first piece of news, started for Nerrigundah, and on receipt of the Nerrigundah outrages, volunteers started to render assistance. W. S. Casswell, Esq., the coroner, also started to hold the inquest. The bushrangers commenced their outrages in open daylight, about 4 o'olock p.m. . Hence the conflict at Wallis's must have been about dusk. It is said that volunteers at Nerrigundah rushed to the police-station for fire-arms in order to assist the police, but, whilst there were arms in plenty, there were no caps. It is feared that sergeant Hitch has been murdered on .the road. Six bullets were fired at Mr John Emmott, one of which wounded the unfortunate gentleman in the thigh. We learn from the same authority, that Fletcher, the leader of the gang, who was shot, was a native of the district, having been brought up at Mullenderra, on the opposite bank of the river to Moruya. It is supposed that he joined the gang at Bega, only last week, and that Monday's work was his first exploit. He knew every hole and Corner m the district, and it is a happy thing for the residents that his career is at an end.

dred and twenty ; and then we have the grand old matrons with their foals paraded before [us—sedate and quiet, they offered a striking contrast to their more spirited progeny; but their value was fully appreciated ; and when Marchioness realised 1,200 guineas, and Omen 1,250, whilst thp eight foals realised an average of 260, we think Mr Fisher had no cause to complain. Totting up figures, wo find over 26,000 guineas the sum total of the sale — the highest priced yearling being Little Fish. Of hores in training, Fishhook heads the poll ; and of foals, that from Omen by Fisherman ; whilst the dam herself, at 1,250 guineas, beats the Oaks winner, Marchioness by just half a century. And so ended the Maribyrnong sale, satisfactorily, we trust, to Mr Fisher, and still more so to the buyers who, it is to be hoped, will meet with every reward of their enterprise.

A meeting of storolceepor* and minors was hold last night, »t Mr Hood's storo, on tho Hau Hau diggings, to tako into consideration tho measures besb to bo adopted for the formation of a good road-way to Hokitika, tho old track, which has been in uso bo long, boing noxt to impassable. Wo have not yot heard tho result of the meeting.